The Most Photographed Event,..

Day 24, Wednesday 10/9 The Most Photographed Event,..

Albuquerque claims to host the most photographed event in the world! The Balloon Fiesta is held here annually, and draws hot air balloon enthusiasts and spectators from around the country and around the world. To support the claim (and boost it), Cannon Camera sales is set up on site and will provide up to 50 free loaner cameras, and 200 free loaner lenses for photo buffs. There is a schedule of events for the nine day fiesta, there are concessions on site, sales and demonstrations, parking, shuttle busses, free bike storage services for up to 2,000.

By the numbers: 550 hot air balloons, 850,000 attendees, 650 pilots, 9 days

Wednesday is our first opportunity to attend, shuttle service begins at 4:30, “Dawn Patrol” begins at 6 AM, Parking must fill up before 6 AM. At 5 AM, we quietly depart the RV site under star light, at 5:30 we join the traffic converging autos toward the parking lots, thousands of cars converge. It is dark and still in the cool of night, but the air is calm which is good for balloons. We found several hundred parking spots still available around 5:50. Park entrance involves security checks, it is best to carry minimal items, like coffee and a bagel. After ticketing, you walk through a gap in the concession tents, the field is ahead. The dark field is full of spectators already, a few balloons are upright, and the inflation torches are roar in spurts like fire breathing dragons. Other balloonists are still arriving and setting up. Workers and volunteers scurry about. 5 mounted police are lined up ready to assist. In the dark, it is not possible to see the scope of the field of balloons, only those near us. Shortly after 6 AM, the first balloons start to lift off one by one to cheers. It is still dark night, and the glow of the balloons is exciting. Daylight creeps in at first, then progresses rapidly toward a 7AM sunrise. As the field is slowly illuminated, more balloons are inflating to the left and right of us. The colors and shapes, and continuous activity is simply amazing. Spectators are allowed on the field with the balloons, pilots and crew. A crew from Germany drives up and unloads the canopy, burner, fuel and balloon. A tarp is spread to protect the balloon, and a high power fan is readied. An adjacent team is from Canada. At 7AM, the Flight of the Nations, Mass Ascension begins. The enormity of the field is revealed as dawn breaks, hundreds balloon teams are spread out in a matrix, we are located in a somewhat central location. The mass ascension is just what you expect. Coordinator personnel scurry about to manage the timing of launches, whistles blow for the go ahead to launch for each team. Pre-inflation is accomplished by the high powered fans, the balloon billows on the ground. When ready, the torch is lit and a few blows into the horizontal balloon causes the rise to begin. It does not require too much hot air to elevate just the balloon. The crew is brave, the torches are powerful.

Overall, I would rate the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta a 12 out of 10. I recommend this for your bucket list, if this is appealing to you.

Since the morning was a very long and tiring day, it is a good plan to catch an early lunch in old town Albuquerque. Old town is a small set of blocks just off of the famous Route 66, which is Central Avenue. Upon arrival, old town is set up as a nice tourist destination, and an early lunch will be perfect because the alarm rang at 4 AM. La Placita is a New Mexican restaurant in a historic 1706 building, with patio seating. The weather is perfectly comfortable, the food is just right, and is finished with hot and fresh Sopapilla with honey drizzle, wow, so good!

After walking some of the tourist shops, it is time for a visit with my cousin, Phyllis who has lived here for several decades. It was great to catch up with Phyllis, so much has changed, time has gone by, and family ties are important and fascinating. Phyllis is doing great! She is so full of energy, so full of positive enthusiasm and incredibly sharp at 78 years. God bless her!

Day 25, Thursday 10/10, Petroglyphs in NM

West of Alburquerque, NM is the Petroglyph National Monument. The visitor center has no petroglyphs to see, but does provide information on the various sites in the area which have a rich set of petroglyphs. As new visitors to this park, this was a bit of a surprise, but not a problem. It is around 3:30 PM, and the locations will close gates at 4:30 or 5:00 or at sunset. All of the locations require a drive from the visitor’s center, our destination is 3.5 miles north, and parking is located on a small street in a neighborhood. Suburban sprawl has affected most of the US, and has swallowed up the lands adjacent to this park preserved with Petroglyphs. The walk is pleasant, sandy desert, 70 degrees, the trail guide and signs are coordinated, with 6 viewing locations. The ancient carvings are on volcanic rock which is jumbled on the side of a hill. The “carvings” were created by native Americans hundreds of years ago by pounding rock onto the smooth stone faces and creating impressions with symbolic pictographs. The images are simple and scattered about, and cause one to think, and imagine the creators and their purpose. While the park literature describe these locations as spiritual places, I can’t help but wonder if the creators were graffiti artists of their day. Graffiti is considered a modern art form today, and many of the artists have talents which they later use commercially (I am not being negative by the grafitti comment).